Prison For Woman Whose Dog Killed Neighbor
Convicted Of Second Degree Murder, Dog Owner Gets 15 Years To Life In Landmark Case
-
Photo
Marjorie Knoller listens to closing arguments in the San Francisco dog mauling trial on March 18, 2002, at the Los Angeles County Courthouse. Knoller whose dogs viciously attacked and killed her neighbor in the hallway of their apartment building seven years ago was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2008, to 15 years to life in prison. (AP PHOTO)
-
Interactive
Crime Beat
Statistics and specifics on crime in America.
Marjorie Knoller was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2001 mauling death of Dianne Whipple, but a judge later reduced the charge to involuntary manslaughter and sentenced her in 2002 to a four-year prison term.
But the California Supreme Court last year said the trial judge was wrong and sent the case back. Last month, Superior Court Judge Charlotte Woolard reinstated the murder conviction, for which Knoller was sentenced Monday.
The case is the California's first murder conviction connected to a dog mauling, prosecutors say.
The case turned into a tabloid sensation because of the viciousness of the attack - the dogs tore all of Whipple's clothing from her body and left her with more than 70 bites - and the seemingly cavalier attitudes of Knoller and her law partner and husband, Robert Noel, who blamed Whipple for the attack.
The couple also said they were keeping the canines on behalf of a white supremacist accused of running an attack dog ring from his state prison cell. The couple eventually adopted the prisoner, Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, as their son.
Knoller, who has served three years in prison, will have to serve 12 more years before she can apply for parole.
In denying Knoller's plea for probation, Woolard noted that Knoller didn't call 911 or otherwise try to help Whipple during the 10-minute attack. The judge said Knoller knew the dogs were dangerous, ignored numerous warnings to train them and hasn't expressed remorse for the attack.
"She has blamed the victim and has held her dogs in higher regard than humans," Woolard said.
Whipple's partner, Sharon Smith, addressed Knoller before she was led off to jail. Smith called Knoller's relationship with the two dogs and the prisoner "perverted" and expressed satisfaction with the lengthy prison sentence.
"It is very hard to find forgiveness for someone who doesn't accept responsibility," Smith said.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



- 1
- 2
- next
See all 72 CommentsShe is where she belongs. Diane Whipple died a terrible, aweful death. Those dogs were dangerous, lethal weapons.
---
And rightly so.
Hopefully, she''ll spend it cleaning up the krap in the prison kennel.....
One of these days that leash is going to break and that dog is going to cut me into little pieces.
It wasn''t the first time they had problems with the dogs back then.
One of these days that leash is going to break and that dog is going to cut me into little pieces.
Posted by closethippy1 at 07:36 AM : Sep 23, 2008
Hope you survive your visit to your neighbour''s property!! If the mutt is let loose in his backyard you might consider tossing over some strychnine-laced meatballs. Illegal but quite thoroughly preemptive. You might also consider carrying Mace.
HOWEVER, what has happened to our system when it takes SEVEN YEARS to resolve what was, in fact, a fairly clear-cut case? And, how much to you suppose all of this cost us? To me, that is the real story here. And,
As for the two idiots on here promoting their wild west gun-toting agenda - if you really think you can draw, aim and fire in the time it takes a pit-bull to run 20 ft and jump at your throat you''re really living in macho la-la-land and you''re a danger to all around you.
Why wouldn''t she hold the dogs with higher regards than humans? The justice system does. Animals have much more rights than humans.
Posted by DoodDad at 08:49 AM : Sep 23, 2008
I couldn''t agree with you more. This is ridiculous. Why we don''t have swift justice continues to behoove me. I am just glad that a dog owner is being held responsible for these horrible dogs.
And, kuei12, the dog was destroyed.
Animals are not endowed with a conscience and simply act on training and instinct. Animals can be trained to be vicious, such training usually borders on abuse of the animal.
The responsibility belongs on the humans. We are the ones with a supposed sense of right and wrong, and we can see by this case how a person puts that sense to little use.
Laws protect animals from abuse. Laws are a voice for those who have no voice themselves.
This woman is a screwball and although she''s got to be nuts, I''m glad they didn''t go with a diminished capacity defense and she''s getting what she deserves.
Maybe a relative or friend of yours will end up in prison someday, and get their eyes poked out with sharp, pointy sticks.
If your idea of American prisons is a bunch of sick guards setting viscious dogs loose on prisoners, you either watch too much TV, or you are simply an idiot.
You can be pretty sure that her cellmate doesnt share that hope.
If she were purdy, like that bombshell blonde teacher in Florida who likes to nail her 15-year-old students, she would NVER see prison time!
Margorie Knoller got exactly what she deserved. I have not sympathy at all, for her.
As a responsible dog owner of two, I hope that this sets a precendent: if this sort of justice can occur in CA, then it can occur in other states. To irresposible owners all over the country, if you don''t take the time and energy to train your dog(s) properly, and take measures to keep them controlled at ALL times, then you too, could possible be sitting one day, in a similiar sort of facility as Knoller.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by zoe2006 at 12:10 PM : Sep 23, 2008
Yeah, it''s the dogs that loose in the end. YOU MORON. First off, yer dumm. Second off, yu ned to ficks tha porchlite on yer trailer. Third off, I think the lady who died really lost???
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by love4all2 at 12:45 PM : Sep 23, 2008
Love4all2! My favorite little b*tch! Good morning to you.
My point was this, the person that really lost was the woman who got mauled. PERIOD. I don''t feel bad for dogs that bit this woman 70 times. Did the dog owners have some fault in that by keeping them in an apartment? Sure. But these dogs died because they mauled a woman and there is someone on here saying that the dogs really lost out here? Get a freakin life.
Get a grip people. I vote for Farrets of the Future!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by curlzz at 12:52 PM : Sep 23, 2008
Love it curlzz. I will support your cause. People are dumb. Animals are dumber. When you have dumb and dumber you have a very funny movie. But not funny in real life. We should just have animals to butcher and eat as meat. Maybe more cows and chickens.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by curlzz at 12:52 PM : Sep 23, 2008
Love it curlzz. I will support your cause. People are dumb. Animals are dumber. When you have dumb and dumber you have a very funny movie. But not funny in real life. We should just have animals to butcher and eat as meat. Maybe more cows and chickens.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by mjm117 at 12:54 PM : Sep 23, 2008
Well, if you want to add a little religion spice to the animal rights mixing bowl, God put animals on earth to eat, not to have as pets anyhow. So yes, raise them and eat them. Period.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by curlzz at 12:58 PM : Sep 23, 2008
Well curlzz, I''m not a religious man myself...but I do love me a rib eye!
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 72 Comments